not escape from the hand of God. For judgment is his, and he will repay it either in this life, or that which is to come."

Thus Joseph interceded for a life, now indeed rendered wretched by the unkind behaviour of his father's sons; more out of desire to dissuade them from contracting fresh guilt, than from any dread that he had of death, or what should follow after it. Whilst Reuben retired behind a neighbouring thicket, to pour out the bitterness of his soul before God, and pray to be directed what part he should act in the present iniquitous affair. How shall I act, said he? If I consent, I bring guilt upon my own soul, and add murder to my incest. If I do not consent, my life is forfeited to the jealousy of my brethren, who will never be easy whilst I am alive, let me be tied to secresy by what oath soever. Surrounded by evils; prudence dictates to chuse the least, that thereby we may escape the greater. I must at all events endeavour to save the boy's life; in order to which I must consent to his death, and may perhaps win so far upon his enemies, as to leave the manner of his death to me. His heart was divided between the thoughts of his own safety and Joseph's; the sorrow which he foresaw ready to fall upon his aged father, and the guilt just about to be contracted by his brethren; but still he steadily determined to use his best endeavours for the safety of the youth. With this resolution, although dissembled, he returned to the rest seemingly with a placid countenance, and thus addressed them. 66 My brethren, I am now ready to concur with your measures, and even to be active therein, upon one small condition being granted me, which is, that instead of shedding his blood, we confine him till death in yonder pit, on the other side of the pasture. "Agreed," replied his brethren," so that he dies, no matter how. hereby Reuben makes himself not only an accomplice, but a principal actor in the tragedy. Away with him to the pit, and there let the sun, moon, and stars, pay their court to him as their governor

And

As this instant, they hurried him away to the pro, posed pit, whilst he in anguish of heart, summoned them all to meet him hereafter before the judgment seat of the King of Kings, where he assured them he should have justice done him. This appeal he designed as a means of conviction, whereby his brethren might be brought to repentance that their sins might be blotted out, when times of refreshing should come from the presence of the Lord.

Joseph now let down into the pit; Reuben rejoiced in hope of having it in his power to deliver him safe the ensuing night to his good old father; whose heart he knew must pant with painful anxiety till his return. Having determined upon this salutary project, he left him there and went to dispatch some pastoral business among the menial herdsmen, at a different part of the wilderness, proposing ere long to return. In the mean while, Joseph having nothing but death to expect, and hardly even desiring any thing else, lift up his soul in fervent prayer to the God of his salvation." Thou God," he cried, "whose presence fills immensity itself, whose eyes see, and whose eye-lids try the actions and hearts of men; thou must of necessity be present here, and witness to all my treatment from my brethren. So far as the appointment is thine, I desire cheerfully to submit to it, and own thy conduct just, as I have deserved a thousand deaths ere now. But Lord, my brethrens motives differ from thine as far as east from west, for envy do they now rise up against me. Here I am in all appearance shut up for certain death. My God, let not my blood be charged upon the sons of my father. My God forgive their iniquity. And O Lord, do thou support my aged father under the pangs of sorrow, which he will from his paternal fondness necessarily feel. Support him, O my God, and give him to bear his affliction in my loss, becoming the parent of the chosen race. Here I am, thou God of heaven and earth. I must die if thou interposeth not. If death is designed for me, help me to bear it with humble resignation; but Lord if thou pleasest

J

to prolong a life altogether insignificant, thou hast
the means in thine own hand. Use them as will be
most for thy glory." Here he was surprized by an
uncommon radiance, which, diffused itself through
the place.
A splendor which overcame him
with the sweetest sensation, and gave his en-
raptured soul a large taste of ethereal felicity, The
amazing brightness a little diminished, so far as to
enable mortal eyes to endure it, there stood a bloom-
ing youth confest to his view. The instant the
celestial visitant discovered himself, he thus ac-
costed the son of Jacob. "I am sent, by my God
and thine, I am sent to inform thee that he is well
acquainted with all thy afflictions and perfectly knows
thy present distress. Not Jehovah only, but the
hosts of heaven in general are witnesses of thy mi-
sery. The celestial legions bowed over the brow of
heaven, and beheld the baleful deed with as much
uneasiness and fearful apprehension for thee, as ce-
lestial spirits are capable of, till the purpose of the
Eternal was revealed. But this calmed every mind,
and the sovereign will of thy God reconciled in an
instant the will of miriads. I am Abel' the proto-
martyr. I fell, my Joseph, by the hand of my bro-
ther Cain, and the day of my fall was the day of my
exaltation. O Joseph, did you but know the joys
prepared for those that love the Lord, you would not
wish to prolong life a moment. But your time is not
come. You are designed to foster infant Israel un-
der the shadow of your wings. You must be sold
into Egypt to govern that fertile land, and provide
sustenance for the seed of the promise. Even to
day ye must begone, for thy God makes use of thy
brethrens jealousy for this very purpose. Only re-
member that when thou art in Egypt thou wilt be
tempted, but keep it ever in thy mind that the God
of the Hebrews sent thee thither. There shall thy
brethren bow down to thee. There shalt thou em-
brace thy father, and there shall Benjamin fall upon
thy neck and shed the fraternal tear. Be not careful
about thy father's affliction. Leave him to his God,

he shall be supported and brought through. When the day is thine think well of thy brother Reuben, he had thee here purposely to deliver thee, but he must see thee no more, till you meet in the court of Pharaoh. I leave thee Joseph, the peace of thy God go with thee.

ARGUMENT.

Joseph taken out of the pit-Sold to Albah an IshmaeliteReuben returns to the pit-His sorrow and despair at missing Joseph-His lamentation-He chargeth the murder upon his brethren―Judah repents of what was done and informs Reuben-They send out messengers to overtake him and bring him back-An angel appears to Reuben and comforts him- They dip Joseph's coat in blood and send it to Jacob-Jacob's grief and Dinah's despair-Joseph's arrival in Egypt-The friendly treatment he meets with from Alvah-He chooseth to abide in Egypt-Potiphar sees him on the mart and conceives a liking to him-Purchases him and presents him to Sabrina his new married lady-A grand hunting matchin the desart-Joseph kills a lion and delivers his mistressSabrina conceives a violent passion for him-Gabriel inspires Joseph with a dream ominous of danger-His prosperity-Joseph saves his mistress a second time from a band of Arabs-His mistress's passion thereby greatly inflamed.

BOOK THE SECOND.

ABSORBED in thought the son of Israel lay, after the heavenly vision was departed, when Judah came to the brim of the pit, and calling Joseph by name, let down a rope which he ordered him to tie about his body below his arms, then he and his brethren drew him out of the pit, and led him to a numerous caravan of merchants, going from Gilead to Egypt, with myrrh, balm and spicery. Confident in the word of the heavenly messenger he ascended out of the pit dreading no evil, and suffered himself to be sold to Alvah, the chief of the company for twenty pieces of silver. The youthful beauty and mature understanding of our hero, equally conspired to endear him to his master, who soon employed him in the government of his camels, with whom we leave him whilst we follow Reuben from the distant field to the pit. Joseph, my brother, Joseph," he cried, but Joseph made no answer; he repeated the doleful

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